Oli Winton's View - a fair one I think

Garry Mann · by **Garry Mann** » 25 Sep 2006 21:58

By Oli Winton - UO Reporter
Reading 1 - 1 United
United went to Reading expecting to win. Despite their very good home record United would not have felt threatened by the Premiership new-boys, and probably had a bit of a shock. Reading are a good team. Not good enough to take points off us, but good enough to with us not being at full strength and not performing to full capability. United had enough chances to win the match but ultimately the performance was not remotely satisfactory.

Going to a new stadium is always more exciting than just another trip to the same old places year after year. However, Reading might as well have been Boro, Sunderland, Derby, Southampton, Leicester or any other generic new stadium. Four stands, one tier, built near a motorway in fields with nothing else about, fans full of replica shirts, PA announcer getting far too excited, music when they score a goal and small time supporters.

Anyway, back to the match itself, the home support bored us with the same old â€˜we support our local teamâ€™ and booing Ronaldo nonsense. Ronaldo, incidentally, was superb. His powerful free kick, mazy runs, sense of urgency, tricks that came off and low wipped in balls across the box provided Unitedâ€™s greatest threat. Every time he was booed he looked better, and the United fans gave him the usual defensive reaction, cheering him on and winding up the home Ingerlund fans with Portugal chants.

A special mention must go to Darren Fletcher, so often the recipient of unwarranted abuse. He ran his heart out today and made a tackle in the first half in the opposition box that was simply sensational. He worked tirelessly all day doing a role that went unnoticed but was of huge importance. Other players did not perform so well though, his midfield partner Michael Carrick being one of them.

The second half started badly. A penalty given to Reading a minute from kick off, for alleged handball by Gary Neville in the box. It was never intentional and his arm was by his side; a crazy decision. Doyle, a boyhood United fan, stepped up and just squeezed the ball in. Lucky lucky lucky.

United suddenly woke up. It is almost comical and disgraceful that it takes going a goal down to add some urgency and fight. Almost at will United were spurred into action and it only took a few moments between Richardson missed an absolute sitter. Fortunately ego boy was taken off straight after. The only saving grace of Richardonâ€™s miss was that Rooney made it. It signalled a change to the boy wonder and gave him confidence to take men on and produce chances again. He was fantastic for the last 25 minutes and played a role in the Scholes deflected shot that somehow did not go in. Ronaldo again played a great role is this chance too with his sheer persistence.

Finally the equaliser came; a solo effort from, of course, Ronaldo. For the remaining period of the game United camped in the opposition box, but no goal came. Reading will look back at a game in which they had no efforts on goal and only scored from a dubious penalty. United can look back at missed chances, the return to form of Rooney and the fitness of Heinze and Vidic. However, on a day when all Unitedâ€™s rivals and title challengers won, this was just not good enough.

Alan Partridge · by **Alan Partridge** » 25 Sep 2006 22:00

Another we're massive how dare you even turn up against us load of bollocks.

Oh and there's shed loads of match threads from that draw the other day, (Spacey mode off)

noise · by **noise** » 25 Sep 2006 22:03

We saw the game, we don't need to read about it, and who the oxf*rd is Oli Winton?

NTRoyal · by **NTRoyal** » 25 Sep 2006 22:05

Excellent report, objective, honest and stright to the point, outstanding journalism.

No wonder he's unofficial, what a load of crap.

Chaney · by **Chaney** » 25 Sep 2006 22:07

whats fair about that?

Alan Partridge · by **Alan Partridge** » 25 Sep 2006 22:10

Our fans aren't the most original, we have some that have only hopped on recently but this is from the ultimate in glory hunting sides, the kettle is firmly potted in the black pocket.

At the end of the day 'atmosphere' is judged on noise and from the 'best support in the land' it was utter oxf*rd. I heard the Ronaldo song which I liked, UNITED and not a lot else. Utter silence for around 10 minutes after we had scored. Great support

Whereas the Reading fans didn't stop singing for most of the game, again not original but in terms of noise the 'best support in the land' was firmly pissed on.

Not even going to go into the replica shirt debate because there isn't one. AT EVERY SINGLE club in the country there are people in replica tops and if he opened his eyes he would see thousands upon thousands at Old Trafford in them, and shock horror in that away end on Saturday.

God knows what he must think when he goes to Newcastle and sees 52,000 in them

Royalwaster · by **Royalwaster** » 25 Sep 2006 22:10

[quote="Garry Mann"]

Reading will look back at a game in which they had no efforts on goal and only scored from a dubious penalty. quote]

Eh? Did this guy only base his report on the MOTD highlights? How about the shot by Seol in first half and the 1:1 of Doyle? Also, somehow I didn't see Manure mount the pressure after going 0:1 down. Instead, the Ronaldo goal came pretty much out of the blue with ManUtd playing really badly between conceding the goal and that one solo effort.

matt_turner · by **matt_turner** » 25 Sep 2006 22:11

what a load of crap, no shots on goal apart from the penalty

tosser

Platypuss · by **Platypuss** » 25 Sep 2006 22:12

Indeed - I'm struggling to think of more than 3 efforts on target from Man U to be honest.

alad · by **alad** » 25 Sep 2006 22:14

It's a fair report. Reading never threatened and only had one 'chance' in the whole game. They played to stop United, not to win a football match.

The fact the best Reading players were defenders say it all.

Maguire · by **Maguire** » 25 Sep 2006 22:16

Obviously it's fishing from Garry Mann, and obviously the report is one-eyed bollocks with about 300 factual errors.

Don't think much more needs to be said on this thread.

Alan Partridge · by **Alan Partridge** » 25 Sep 2006 22:16

alad wrote:It's a fair report. Reading never threatened and only had one 'chance' in the whole game. They played to stop United, not to win a football match.

The fact the best Reading players were defenders say it all.

That's utter rubbish.

We tried to win the game, we started up 4-4-2 and tried to take the game to them. The fact is Man Utd have far better players than us and are a far better side, they restricted us and dominated the game as they will against nearly every side in this division, including teams that are better than us.

But to say we didn't try to win the game is utter nonsense.

Super Kevin Bremner! · by **Super Kevin Bremner!** » 25 Sep 2006 22:18

Load of bitter crap about the stadium/fans etc.

United may be a bigger club, bigger history etc etc etc, but they their arrogance as a bunch of supporters is rediculous. Speaking for myself and the group of mates I go to the games with, I challenge ANY united supporter to be brave/foolish/commited enough to travel to the dross week in/week out that we've been to.

alad · by **alad** » 25 Sep 2006 22:20

Alan Partridge wrote:
alad wrote:It's a fair report. Reading never threatened and only had one 'chance' in the whole game. They played to stop United, not to win a football match.

The fact the best Reading players were defenders say it all.
That's utter rubbish.

We tried to win the game, we started up 4-4-2 and tried to take the game to them. The fact is Man Utd have far better players than us and are a far better side, they restricted us and dominated the game as they will against nearly every side in this division, including teams that are better than us.

But to say we didn't try to win the game is utter nonsense.

I'm not having ago, as it worked and the job was done

Alan Partridge · by **Alan Partridge** » 25 Sep 2006 22:21

alad wrote:
Alan Partridge wrote:
alad wrote:It's a fair report. Reading never threatened and only had one 'chance' in the whole game. They played to stop United, not to win a football match.

The fact the best Reading players were defenders say it all.
That's utter rubbish.

We tried to win the game, we started up 4-4-2 and tried to take the game to them. The fact is Man Utd have far better players than us and are a far better side, they restricted us and dominated the game as they will against nearly every side in this division, including teams that are better than us.

But to say we didn't try to win the game is utter nonsense.
I'm not having ago, as it worked and the job was done.

If you'd have said once it went to 1-1 that Reading tried to hang on for a point you would then be right, but to suggest we didn't try and win the game at the start is nonsense.

Oh and your fishing again!!

Petercccccc · by **Petercccccc** » 25 Sep 2006 22:22

We might not have the best chants in the world, but try winning a argument with the biscuitmen

alad · by **alad** » 25 Sep 2006 22:25

Alan Partridge wrote:
alad wrote:
Alan Partridge wrote: That's utter rubbish.

We tried to win the game, we started up 4-4-2 and tried to take the game to them. The fact is Man Utd have far better players than us and are a far better side, they restricted us and dominated the game as they will against nearly every side in this division, including teams that are better than us.

But to say we didn't try to win the game is utter nonsense.
I'm not having ago, as it worked and the job was done.
If you'd have said once it went to 1-1 that Reading tried to hang on for a point you would then be right, but to suggest we didn't try and win the game at the start is nonsense.

Oh and your fishing again!!

Let's be fair, Sidwell and Harper may aswell have played in defence, as they never crossed the half way line except for corners.

No need to get so defensive

Alan Partridge · by **Alan Partridge** » 25 Sep 2006 22:28

alad wrote:
Alan Partridge wrote:
alad wrote: I'm not having ago, as it worked and the job was done.
If you'd have said once it went to 1-1 that Reading tried to hang on for a point you would then be right, but to suggest we didn't try and win the game at the start is nonsense.

Oh and your fishing again!!
Let's be fair, Sidwell and Harper may aswell have played in defence, as they never crossed the half way line except for corners.

.

Ok I'll play along

James 'the crab' Harper never does anyway and Sidwell was stopped from doing that after the first half when Scholes was finding tons of room in front of our defense. He was going to win it for Man Utd so second half Sidwell stuck on him and he was slightly less effective.

United are too good a side for us to bomb on gung ho and leave tons of gaps.

Don't like unfair criticism of our side, even if it is wriggling away!

We can't be criticised in any way for the Man Utd game.

The Goat was fed · by **The Goat was fed** » 25 Sep 2006 22:31

Seem to recall the away side on Saturday played with only one up front.

Very adventurous. Presumably 4-4-2 was too risky against a team with our home record?

alad · by **alad** » 25 Sep 2006 22:36

The Goat was fed wrote:Seem to recall the away side on Saturday played with only one up front.

Very adventurous. Presumably 4-4-2 was too risky against a team with our home record?

Formations mean very little at this level as top sides change shape during a game. The fact United dominated possession and chances are proof of this.